The Crosstown Cup can bring out the best in players. Exhibit A: Dioner Navarro. The free-swinging backup catcher was locked in Wednesday afternoon, ripping home runs in each of his three official plate appearances to lead the Cubs to a 9-3 victory over the White Sox.

Batting right-handed in the second and fourth innings, the 29-year-old switch-hitter took a pair of John Danks change-ups into the left-field stands. Then batting left-handed in the bottom of the seventh, he launched a Brian Omogrosso fastball down the right-field line onto Sheffield Avenue for his third homer of the day. Navarro finished 3-for-3 with three home runs, six RBI, four runs and a walk.

It was the first multi-homer game of Navarro’s career, and he became the first Cubs catcher to hit three homers in a game since George Mitterwald in 1974. After yesterday’s win and Tuesday’s rainout, the North Siders lead the Crosstown series 2-0. Travis Wood will take the mound for the Cubs Thursday afternoon, opposite Sox veteran Jake Peavy.

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